Lock-blade knife



(No Model.)

J. P. JACKSON. LOOK BLADE KNIFE.

No. 584,077. PatentedJune 8, 1897.

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UNITE STATES PATENT @rrrca JOSEPH P. JACKSON, OF REYNOLDS BRIDGE, CONNECTICUT.

LOCK-BLADE KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 584,077, dated June 8, 1897. Application filed July 30,1896. Serial No. 6011006. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrn P. JACKSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Reynolds Bridge, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lock-Blade Knives, of which the followingis a specification.

Myinvention has relation chiefly to pocketknives, but is applicable in other classes, and it relates especially to that variety wherein the blade is intended to be held against accidental closing while the implement is in use, which variety is known as look blade knives.

The principal object of my invention is to provide or produce a lock-blade knife wherein the locking mechanism is simple, efficient,

and convenient, and at the same time incapable of becoming unlocked except when manipulated expressly for that purpose, and a subordinate object is to maintain a slight spring-pressure on the blade at all times, so that it will be properly held in its handle whether it be locked or unlocked. To accomplish all of this and to secure other and further advantages in the matters of construction, operation, and use, my improvements involve certain novel and useful features of invention, as will be herein first fully described, and then pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is an elevation showing an improved form of knife entirely closed, and Fig. 2 a similar View of a fragment representing the tumbler released. Fig. 3 is an elevation corresponding with Fig. 1, but having one side of the handle removed. Fig. 4 is an end elevation. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the blade opened and locked; and Fig. 6, alike View representing the blade unlocked. Fig. 7 is a crosssection on line 7 7 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In all the figures like letters of reference wherever they occur indicate corresponding parts. I

A is the knife-blade, pivoted in one end of the handle, as at a, and provided with an angular looking notch or recess 1).

Bis the mainspring, the same being pivoted in the handle, as at c, and supplied at the end bearing on the blade with an angular projection cl, calculated to enter and snugly fit the recess 1) when the blade is fully opened.

In the butt of the handle is a piece or block 0, called a tumbler, and this is pivoted, as at e, and provided with a notch, whereby it may be easily opened with the thu nib-nail, the handle being suitably cut away in the region of the tumbler to afford access to the notch, as indicated.

' When the tumbler is closed, (see Figs. 3 and 5,) the portionf, called a center, bears upon a corresponding center g on the adjacent end of the mainspring, and these two centers overlap each other between the pivots e and 0, so that the mainspring presses upon the shank of the blade with full force and effect, according to the position of the blade, whether it be opened or closed, and the tendency of the mainspring is to keep the tumbler closed. \Nhen the tumbler is opened or drawn back out of engagement with the mainspring, were it not for provisions expressly made to prevent it that spring would have no effect on the blade as a spring, and the blade would, therefore, move loosely in or out of its handle. To obviate this, I employ a feather-spring D, the same being secured at one end in some substantial Way, as by riveting or otherwise, as may be preferred, to the mainspring and bearing at its outer end under a notch in the tumbler.

hen the tumbler is opened, the featherspring will tend to hold the mainspring in action on the blade, so that the latter will never be devoid of springpressure to hold it properly in place. In other words, when the mainspring is not in tension the feather spring is in action.

The handle is recessed, as at- 7t, so that when the tumbler is drawn back the mainspring may be pressed, as bythe thumb, to release the projection (I, so that the blade may be closed.

It will be seen that when the tumbler is closed and the blade locked it will be impossible for the blade to be accidentally moved, so the knife maybe used without danger of the blade closing down on the fingers same as a knife with a stationary handle.

The improvements afford as well a knifeblade quick acting in the operation of opening'. The preferred method of preparing the implement for use is to first open the tumbler and then to snap the blade out by a quick movement of the hand, striking the butt on the other hand or elsewhere on the return movement, thus closing the tumbler, when the knife is ready for action with all the security and with all the advantages above indicated.

In former constructions of lock blade knives of which I am aware the locking mechanism has been of such construction and arrangement that it is possible to release the blade bygrasping the handle over-firmly, and they do not possess the security and reliability which is desirable.

Having now fully described my invention,

What I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a lock-blade knife, the combination With ing arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Signed at Thomaston, in the county of Litehfield and State of Connecticut, this 28th day of July, A. D. 1896.

JOSEPH' P. JACKSON.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH GooLEY, FRANK W. ETHERIDGE. 

